VALIDITY OF THE EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTOR CONCEPT IN THE INELASTIC BUCKLING OF COLUMNS SUBJECTED TO VARYING AXIAL FORCE

Abstract

Buckling loads of columns subjected to two kinds of varying axial force are calculated. The analytical models are a column which has two different sections subjected to two different axial forces and a column subjected to liner varying axial force. The buckling equations are derived by using the slope-deflection method for stability and the Galerkin method and the effective length factor and the buckling strength in the inelastic range are calculated. The buckling strength calculated by using the effective length factor concept are compared to the accurate buckling strength and the validity of the effective length factor concept in the inelastic buckling is discussed.